Tamping apparatus



Feb. 6, 1934-. w. GILMORE QTAMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 10, 1952 3 Sheets-$heet l M zZZZ Jm Ell mare Feb. 6, 1934. w. GILM-ORE I 1,946,019

TAMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb, 10 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gymmvbwo M/ZZZ 21am Eli 21201 5 Feb 6, 1934. w. GILMORE 1,946,019

TAMPING APPARATUS 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 0.

R? fig mm W27 2' 2'5: 51 7122 are Patented Feb. 6, 1934 TAMPING APPARATUS William Gilmore, Meridian, Miss.

Application February 10, 1932. Serial No. 592,172

6 Claims.

This invention relates .to a road tamping apparatus; and, more particularly, to a machine adapted to tamp under varying conditions of contour and road bed.

The prime object of the invention is to obtain a uniform hard packed high density road bed.

One of the objects is to provide means for varying the cycle of movement of the tamps so that they may strike simultaneously or successively in varying spaced relation to each other. Heretofore it has been common to have a series of tamps arranged in fixed relation to each other which will successively strike the surface. Under my arrangement, the tamps may be arranged in accordance with varying conditions so that any predetermined cycle of movement can be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide guiding apparatus for the tamps so that the maximum efficiency will be obtained during the tamping operation. In order to obtain the best results, it is desirable to have positive means for raising the tamps, and means for releasing the same so that the tamps will drop of their own weight. To have a positive mechanical control movement both on the downward as well as the upward movement is objectionable in that the surface to be tamped is often very irregular and may hit some hard object which will not give to the down stroke, with the result that damage would be done to the apparatus. In the absence of positive guide means on the down stroke, there is very apt to be created lost motion with resulting inefficiency.

Under my construction, the tamps are directed in a definite manner without loss of eificiency, and at the same time, the objection to the positive downward drive is obviated.

Still another object is to break the crust of material which forms on the end of the tamps during the tamping operation. Under my construction, the material is dislodged during the upward stroke automatically so that no time is lost through stopping the machine to clean the tamps which is necessary under the ordinary clutch 20, of the-type shown in Figure 8,.is adaptend. of the-walking beam 25 is bifurcated to form 4 v Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-4) of Figure 2; v

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary prespective ofthe manually operated clutch mechanism;

Figure 9 is a detailed side elevation of the tamp partly broken away to show the weight adapted to free the tamp of accumulated material; and

Figure 10 is a cross section taken on line 10-- 10 10 of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar parts are designated with like numerals:

Numeral 11 designates a frame of any suitable vehicle on which is mounted an engine 12. It is 145 understood that any motivepower may be utilized Y either from the movement of the vericle itself, or the motive power for moving the vehicle, or independent power, as illustrated.

A belt extends from a stub shaft 14 onto abelt ap wheel 15, in turn fixedly mountedon-a shaft ,16 extending across the frame 11. Bearings .17 vsupport shaft 16. A pinion 18 is loosely mountedon shaft 16 in engagement with a spur wheel19. A

ed to move into engagement with the pinion 18 and to rotate the spur wheel 19. Extending, from a hub 21 on the spur wheel 19 is an arm 22 secured adjacent the outer periphery of thespur wheel 19 by a pin 23 which in turn forms. apivotal point for a pitman arm 24, the pitman arm .24 being connected to a walking beam 25. A shaft 26 is supportedby bearings 2'7 and in turn forms a fulcrum for the walking beam 25. The outer two-members 28 and 29. Elongated slots 30 and 31 are formed in the bifurcated portion and adapted to receive studs 50, 51 of aclutchmember 38 which receives a tamp 32. The tamp32 consists of frame members 33 and 34, moreparticularly shown in Figure 3. A weight 35 is slidably mounted between the two members 33 and 34.

A shaft 3'? is connected to the Weight 35 and rides up through a clutch member 38. The clutch 38, more particularly shownin Figures 4 and 5, is composed of two parts 39 and 40 secured together by spring members 41 and 42.- Pins-43 and 44 are slidably mounted in the part39.

A rod-45 extends through themember 39 having cam faces 46 and 47 formed therein incontact with the pins 43 and 44 respectively. A lever 48 extends from one end of said rod 45 so that upon rotation of the lever 48 to the pins 43 and44 will be brought into and out of engagement with the portion 4.0 of the clutch-38 in turn-moving the portion 40 away from the portion 39 inturn increasing the diameter of the opening 49 formed between the members 39 and 40 through which the shaft 37 of the tamp 32 extends and is'adapted to move. Upon the lever 48 moving in an gzo opposite direction, the pins 43 and 44 will no longer force the portion 40 away from the portion 39, so that the spring members 41 and 42 will force the members 39 and 40 together tightly gripping the shaft 37. Studs 50 and 51 ride in the elongated slots and 31, respectively, of the bifurcated portion of the walking beam.

At the lower end of the weight is placed a second weight 52 held in position by apin 53,

the pin 53 extending through an oversize opening 54 formed in the weight 52 so that there will be a small amount of play permitting the weight 52 to project slightly beyond the lower surface of the weight 35.

Aplurality of units 55 may be mounted on the shaft 16 in the form of separate clutch mem bers similar to the one shown in Figure 8, and having pinions 56 corresponding to the pinion 18, and in turn adapted to rotate spur wheels 57 similar to spur wheel 19. Each unit 55 is of the same construction as the first unit already described, having a hub similar to hub 21 from which extends an arm, similar to the arm 22, secured adjacent the outer periphery of the spur wheel 19, and a pitman arm, similar to the arm 24. connected to a walking beam, similar to the walking beam 25. Tamping construction, similar to that described in tamp 32, along with the other apparatus, is secured to each unit described. Under this arrangement, any one or all of the units may be brought into operation by simply j operating the individual clutch handles 58, there being a clutch and a clutch handle for each unit. This also permits the tamps 32 to strike the ground at the same time, or by throwing the various clutches 20 into engagement while the walking beams 25 are in different positions, successive tamps may be obtained so that there is a continuous tamping operation.

In order to change the throw of the walking beams 25, additional bearings 59 and 60 are provided.

As actually used, the various clutches 20 will be operated so as to connect up the power with each unit, the motive power turned on, which in turn causes the spur wheels 19 to revolve, operating the walking beams 25. As each of the walking beams is tilted upwardly, the shaft 37 will be raised, in turn lifting the weight 35. As the walking beam 25 reaches the highest point of its throw, the lever 48 carried by the clutch 38, will strike a cam 61, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 3, which will revolve the rod 45, turning the cams 46 and 47 into engagement with the pins 43 and 44 separating the parts 39 and so that the shaft 3'7 will be released.

Since the weights 35 are slidably mounted in frame members 33 and 34, which in turn are pivoted at 62 to the stationary upright members 63 of the main frame, the weights 35 will slide downwardly in the frame members 33 and 34, and perform the tamping action.

When the walking beams 25 have reached the lowest point of their throw, the lever 48 will strike cams 64, revolving the lever 48, bringing the rod and cam faces 46 and 47 out of engagement with the pins 43 and 44, resulting in the spring members 41 and 42 forcing the two members 39 and 40 toward each other, thus gripping the shaft 37, and as the walking beam 25 starts its upward throw, will raise the weight 35.

As the weight 35 is raised, the small weight 52 will fall outwardly due'to its weight and the fact that there is lost motion at the point of suspension. This results in any material that has accumulated on the base of the tamp being dislodged. It is necessary that the shafts 3'7 extend above the upward throw of the walking beams 25, since the surface to be tamped is often irregular and the temps will drop until they strike the surface to be tamped. Said lost 7 motion permits the tamping of ground regardless of how uneven it is. Since the frame members 33 and 34 are pivoted at 62, the temp 32 will always fall in a vertical line much in the manner of a plumb bob regardless of the position of the vehicle, and will eliminate any forward drag of tamp 32 as the machine moves forward.

Since it is always desirous of getting a direct thrust during the tamping operation, the advantages of this construction are obvious; This is particularly true where a grade is encountered. Due to the fact that the walking beams 25 operate through an arc, and it is desirous of having the tamping performed in a substantially vertical 7 plane, slots 30 and 31 are formed in the bifurcated members 28 and 29, so that the clutch 38, by Way of studs and 51, will work back and forth in the slots 30 and 31 as the walking beams 25 work up and down. By having the weights 35 guided in the frame members 33 and 34, a steadying effect is obtained which is highly desirable during the tamping operation.

Tainps of varying weight may be used and allowed to strike in any desired cycle. I have dis-' covered that by varying the weight of the temps and the succession of blows, that certain vibratory effects are obtained which greatly facilitate the tamping operation and cause the earth in the immediate vicinity of the tamp to set which results in a uniform density of the road bed with the result that the usual length of time required for road beds to settle for surfacing or paving is largely eliminated.

It is obvious that many well known construc---' tions may be substituted for the well known constructions utilized by me, such as the particular clutch mechanism 20, illustrated in Figure 8, since any well known clutch construction would serve equally as well as that illustrated in my drawings. It is also possible that I may substitute a single clutch control device instead of the plurality of clutch handles 58 without departing from the scope of my. invention.

What I claim is:

l. A tamping machine. comprising a frame, a walking beam pivctally mounted on said frame, means for rocking said walking beam, said walking beam havinga free end, a clutch mechanism mounted securely to said free end, guide members pivotally secured to said frame, a tamp having a shaft extending therefrom slidably mounted in said guide members, said shaft extending through said clutch mechanism, said clutch mechanism adapted. to grip said shaft upon the upward movement of the free end of the said walking beam and in turn raise said tamp, said clutch mechanism adapted to release said tamp at the end of the upward movement, said guide members adapted to hang in a vertical plane.

2. A tamping machine comprising a frame, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said frame, means for rocking said walking beam, said walking beam having a free end, a clutch mechanism mounted securely to said free end, guide members pivotally secured to said frame, a tamp having a shaft extending therefrom slidably mounted in said guide members, said shaft extending through the clutch mechanism, said clutch mechanism adapted to grip said shaft upon the up-:'

its

ward movement of the free end of the said walking beam and in turn raise said tamp, said clutch mechanism adapted to release said tamp at the end of the upward movement, and means for operating said clutch mechanism to grip and release said shaft at predetermined points, said guide members adapted to hang in a vertical plane during the tamping operation.

3. A tamping machine comprising a frame, a walking beam pivotally mounted on said frame, means for rocking said walking beam, said walking beam having a free end bifurcated and slots formed in the bifurcated portion, a clutch mechanism mounted in said slots so as to move therein, guide members pivotally secured to said frame, a tamp having a shaft extending therefrom slidably mounted in said guide members, said shaft extending through said clutch mechanism, said clutch mechanism adapted to grip said shaft upon the upward movement of the free end of the said Walking beam and in turn raise said tamp, said clutch mechanism adapted to release said tamp at the end of the upward movement, and means for operating said clutch mechanism to grip and release said shaft at predetermined points, said guide memhers adapted to hang in a vertical plane during the tamping operation.

4. A tamping machine comprising a frame,

tamping means, means for raising and lowering said tamping means, a weight slidably mounted in said tamping means, said weight adapted to project beyond the lower surface of said tamp upon the raising of said tamp to dislodge material collected thereon.

5. A tamping machine comprising a frame, a weight adapted to tamping purposes, means for raising and lowering said weight, a portion of said weight slidably mounted thereon, means for limiting the movement of said portion, said portion adapted to extend beyond the lower surface of said weight upon the upward movement to free materials collected thereon during the tamping operation.

6. A tamping machine comprising a frame, guide members pivotally secured to said frame, tamping means slidably mounted in said guide members, means carried by said frame for raising and lowering said tamping means, a weight slidably mounted in said tamping means adapted to project beyond the lower surface of said tamping means during the upward movement to dislodge material collected during the tamping operation, and means for limiting the movement of said weight in said tamping means.

WILLIAM GILMORE. 

